Fact-check: Malaysiakini did not report Sarawak MPs reject PN

A widely-circulated image purported to be a screenshot of a Malaysiakini news article stating that 10 Sarawak MPs have rejected cooperation with Perikatan Nasional is false.

The news portal did not publish such a report.

The image, widely circulated on WhatsApp, is a mashup of Malaysiakini's masthead with text which did not come from the portal.

The text in the image claims that 10 Sarawak parliamentarians held a press conference in Kuching to reject cooperation with PN because it does not want to work with the PN component party, PAS.

However, the text is littered with misspellings. For example, the state is named Serawak.

It also includes a photograph of Sarawak MP Nancy Shukri, which has the Berita Harian watermark.

As at 1.50pm today, no Sarawak MP has made any statements against joining forces with PN to form the government.

Yesterday, Gabungan Parti Sarawak said it will support PN to form the government with BN and Gabungan Rakyat Sabah.

Hot topic for fake news

Meanwhile, another image purported to be a screenshot of a Malaysiakini Bahasa Malaysia report stating that PN has formed a government has also been circulating on social media. 

Malaysiakini has not reported that PN will form the federal government after winning 131 seats in the general election. PN had actually won 73 seats.

The fake headline also states that Monday (today) is a holiday. 

However, the byline clearly states that it is satire, as the name of the author was stated as 'Yang percaya bodo' (Those who believe this are stupid).

The formation of the federal government is a target of fake news today after no clear winner emerged in the 15th general election Nov 19.

As of 4.45pm, the federal government has not been formed, although both PN chairperson Muhyiddin Yassin and Pakatan Harapan chairperson Anwar Ibrahim said they have support from more than half of MPs to be appointed prime minister.

The Agong has extended the deadline for parties to negotiate to form the government from 2pm today to 2pm tomorrow.

Follow developments as they happen at Malaysiakini’s Live Blog.

Malaysiakini is part of a fact-checking alliance, JomCheck, made up of media houses, academia, and civil society.

Through JomCheck, Malaysians are able to submit requests to fact-check a claim by sending a WhatsApp message to the tipline 017-477 6659 (WhatsApp text only, no calls) or via this link.

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